Treatment Guidelines
Treatment guidelines are produced by the "experts" in the field as a guide for how to approach an illness, in this case, Pediatric Bipolar Disorder. What kind of benefits do these types of guidelines have?
A way that is respected in the medical community for the most current research and information to be disseminated to as many clinical doctors as possible.
A guide for doctors who may not be experienced in treating Pediatric Bipolar.
A way for parents to become more informed about the disease, the treatment, and options in managing their child’s illness. Knowledge is power.
A way for parents to be able to recognize when their child is receiving care that is appropriate and most likely to help (according to current knowledge).
A jumping off point for discussions between parents and psychiatrists, therapists and other professionals. By being informed parents can become stronger partners in providing the best medical care for their child.
Three excellent sources for guidelines:
JAACAP Guidelines ~ 20 experts from around the country plus 4 parents met for 2 days to put together the most comprehensive and evidence based current guidelines for treating Bipolar in children.
BAP Guidelines ~ Guy Goodwin MD of Oxford University and an expert consensus panel.
Psychopharmachology of Bipolar Disorder by Dr.Peter Brigham ~ Brookline, MA, USA. He received his medical school training at George Washington University in Washington, DC, and did residency at McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA.